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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "BARR.VERONICA.ADAMS (SAN, ESQ)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.veronica.adams100@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 06:17:08 -0800
Subject: RE : REPLY IMMEDIATELY.

Attn: Sir/Madam,
My Name is Barrister Mrs. Veronica Adams Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Mrs. Ann Parker, a national of your country. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. On December 18, 2003, an American Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mrs. Ann Parker. made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$26.500, 000.00(Twenty Million, Five Hundred thousand Dollars)in a bank. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to her forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, I sent a reminder and finally i discovered from her contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mrs. Ann Parker. died from a ghastly automobile accident.
On further investigation, I found out that she died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace her next of kin was fruitless/avail. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mrs. Ann Parker. did not declare any next of kin or relations in all her official documents, including her Bank Deposit paper work in her Bank. This sum of US$26.500, 000.00 is still sitting in her Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 7 (Seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim this fund Consequently, My proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mrs. Ann Parker. so that the fruits of this woman's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full
I will drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/ administration in your favor for the transfer. I would need you as a Foreigner acting as the next of kin and sole benefactor to the inheritance of Mrs. Ann Parker. to travel and claim this money in a SECURITY COMPANY based in Europe which is used by her bank as an offshore payment center to the bank. The money will be paid to you for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 40% for you then 10% for any expense that may come up. There is no risk at all as all the paper work for this transaction will be done by me with my position as Attorney guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
Thanks,
Best regards
Barrister Mrs. Veronica Adams (SAN).

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